Loved feasting and hunting eggs with some of our favorite kiddos. If you look closely at the one of Gabriel, you'll see he is holding one of the mantis nymphs Ryker hatched. Ryker fed a few of the nymphs to his lizard, Ali Al, and the rest he released. There were no fewer than 1000. Our neighborhood will be aphid and fruit fly free this season!
I felt a tap on my shoulder as I worked with a student in Ryker's class this week. A sweet girl wanted to share her writing project with me - A love letter intended for Ryker. It had been colored pink and cut in the shape of a heart. I told her it was very nice and watched as she found Ryker and gave it to him. He read it, giggled and put it on the table beside him. I heard her ask what he was going to do with it and he answered, "Nothing." The girl then told him he should collect all the notes she writes him. "I do." he replied with grin. "In the trash can."
If I didn't know how much he likes Libby, he'd have serious consequences for being mean! And when we talked about it later, Ryker assured me that Libby likes that he is so funny. Oh dear...this sounds very familiar...
Emerson has figured out how to work the timer on Ryan's camera, among other things, and I pulled this self portrait off his camera. When Em grows up, she want to be Ryker. ;) She keeps me on my toes! Just recently, she helped me fix something and when we were finished I exclaimed, "See? That was a piece of cake!"
"No." Em corrected. "Piece of STEAK!"
Contrary to popular opinion, we think Seattle's aquarium is just the right size. We've been told that it is a rare thing to see the usually shy giant octopus but we've seen her four times now. And this time she ate her sardines right in front of us - all pressed up against the glass. Awesome!
Everybody won a 100 Grand (the chocolate variety). Gabriel did the pinata in, more or less. I love the faces in the background of the last one. :)
Ryker received a loft bed for his birthday. It arrived while he was in Palm Springs and he was tucked into it within minutes of arriving home. When I checked on him at 1:30 AM, he was wide awake - too excited to sleep, he said. I think it will fit one more child. Don't you think? :)
We kicked off spring break with a birthday celebration. Seven! Sniff. Sniff. Ryker long ago requested a Minute-To-Win-It party and so it was. More birthday and spring break pics to come.
Today is the day and it's a really big deal! We appreciate Grandpa Jack and Grandma Blanche's committment to each other and their family for 70 years. We wish them a happy anniversary. And we hope to be so lucky...
...and still smiling! We said goodbye to the kiddos as they headed to Palm Springs where they have been enjoying the sun with grandparents, uncles and cousins. We miss them! As I signed Ryker out of school last week (he'll return for just one day before spring break), I tried to excuse myself but ended up admitting that I'm a lame mom and begging forgiveness instead. "No, Mom." Ryker assured me. "You're actually pretty cool." :)
